FREETOWN — The town will soon have another tribute to veterans, particularly those who were prisoners of war or missing in action.

Selectmen Monday approved the purchase of a POW/MIA Chair of Honor which will be on display at Town Hall. The purpose of the chair is to remind citizens of the sacrifices made by soldiers, officials said.

They explained the chair should remain perpetually empty, reminding people that even though these soldiers are not here there is always a space for them.

The first Chair of Honor was dedicated at Gillette Stadium on Veterans Day 2012. Since then, chairs have been added to the TD Garden and Fenway Park.

The concept for the Chair of Honor was started by the veterans' advocacy group Rolling Thunder Inc. The goal is to have a Chair of Honor on display in every municipality in the country.

Their primary goal is to bring full accountability for prisoners of war and missing in action service members of all U.S. wars. Rolling Thunder member Joe D'Entremont has said he got the idea for the chair after seeing a seat left purposely empty at a ceremony honoring POWs and MIAs in Bristol, Tenn.

The group sent a letter to Freetown Veteran's Agent Dan LeBlanc, who presented the concept to the board at their Feb. 10 meeting.

There are two versions of the chair: a folding version that includes the POW/MIA symbol on the back rest and the Rolling Thunder message on the seat. The fixed version is a stadium style seat which can be bolted to concrete, aluminum or wood.

LeBlanc said the cost of the chair is $300 and the local VFW chapter would be willing to pay for it. An American flag, POW flag and rope barrier are included in the cost.

LeBlanc added he hopes to hold a dedication ceremony on either Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

The board enthusiastically supported the concept and Selectwoman Lisa Pacheco endorsed buying the fixed chair even if it means the town would incur a portion of the cost.

“I would like to see it bolted to a platform, engraved in the front,” said Pacheco. “It could visit schools, be used on ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans' Day. We could have it on stage at the Annual Town Meeting.”

LeBlanc said while several other communities have been contacted, he believes Freetown would be the first local municipality to have a Chair of Honor.